Carrie Ann Smith, young mother of one, age 25…

May 2004, Something was terribly wrong with my eldest daughter Carrie.  Unbeknownst to us, blood test after blood test showed serious abnormalities until Dr. Browne finally advised Carrie that she was referring her to a specialist at the Regional Cancer Center in Erie, PA. No other details were offered other than that “something was a little off in her blood test results.”  Carrie, as I recall, was an emotional wreck.

Because we lived in different towns, Carrie’s father who lived nearby went to her side in support, until I could get there to help her.  How could this be happening?  There was no warning!  It took some time to get an appointment with the specialist, and so from July 04 – Sep 3, 04 we waited, worried, and fretted.  We did not know what to expect?  We could gain no insight as to what was wrong.

When Carrie's appointment finally came, we were slapped with the worst possible news, Carrie had AML leukemia, and they felt it was the worst case they had ever seen.  We were told to prepare for the worst, but that they couldn’t be sure until the bone marrow results were in.  So we waited from 3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. that day.  Finally, the call came, but the doctor advised us that it was not as bad as he originally thought.  He thought it was MDS, which typically affects older people, age’s 55-68 years old.  He felt that if there was any good news in all of this, that this was it.  So that was it!  We could breathe a sigh of relief…

However, from that point forward, the race was on for a "bone marrow donor match" for Carrie that had to match 9 points in Carrie’s blood to eradicate the MDS. Blood tests and lab visits became daily and weekly rituals. Doctors advised we only had a 6 month window of opportunity in which to find a suitable donor match. To our utter sorrow, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. At first, the donor wasn't ready. Then Carrie needed dental work done. Next, Carrie developed a cyst on her tailbone that had to be surgically removed. We tried to remain optimistic, but we could not deny the awful sinking feeling in the pits of our stomach, and the fear in our hearts. Then, two days prior to the day of Carrie’s stem cell transplant, her blood tested as it typically had prior. However, two days later, her blood identified AML leukemia. I will never forget that day; it was March 11, 2005, as it was my birthday. "Try and stay optimistic," they said, the chemotherapy could work...  Finally, Carrie had a stem cell transplant and we even tried staying optimistic through this, but were slapped down again when two months later we found out the AML was back.

Treatment after treatment we watched our daughter wither away, grow hair, have another treatment, and then be bald and beautiful again.  She tried to fight, but she was getting weaker and growing more tired and frail. The doctors would give us hope, and then they would take it right back.  Then, one day on August 16th, 2005, they finally told Carrie that there wasn't anything else they could do for her.  I will never forget that day.  Dr. Lister told her this and after a few words from Carrie, and nothing else to say, he darted from the room with nothing else to offer.  Dr. Rosetti stayed by, promising to keep looking for ways to help. If they weren’t giving up, we weren’t giving up!  She was our daughter!  We would never stop fighting for her right to survival, to live, to breathe, to be happy!

On August 17th, one day after Carrie’s 27th birthday, we brought her home to hospice care.  Carrie, nor we, was willing to take this lying down. We purchased vitamin C, which seemed to help some, but not enough, as we could not get the doctors to use a constant drip of vitamin C, known to help cancer and leukemia patients.

In the midst of all this, Carrie's younger sister was getting married. Carrie was to be in her wedding. Now they were telling us that we needed to start preparing for a funeral for one daughter, while we were in the process of marrying another. My personal life was a wreck and my marriage was ending. Life seemed to be falling apart in all ways possible.

Then, one week and six days after her sister’s wedding, on a warm sunny afternoon in October, with the sun coming through the blinds that day, I watched my first born daughter draw her last breath. Something no mother or parent, should ever have to do.

Carrie's life: When Carrie was little, around first grade, the school felt that Carrie was ADHD, and our doctor felt that the best thing to do, was to put her on Ritalin. I, as her Mother, gave this to her as prescribed, twice daily. With all the information I am reading about this; a case study were Ritalin could be linked to chromosomal abnormalities, DNA damage, and an increased risk of cancer in children.  As well as other parents making the connection about the same kind of hematological damage happening in their children, causing bone marrow suppression, ITP, aplastic anemia, leukemia, heart attacks, severe depression, cases of suicide and other psychiatric concerns.  Surely knowing this, knowing what I ‘now know’, no “other” child of mine, nor grandchild of mine, will ever see a drug like this.  If there are problems, I will find natural alternatives.

I feel there should be drug warnings and studies for these drugs, as well as sister drugs like them on the market. We still don’t fully know, nor understand all of the damage that this drug / these drugs do to our children.  Isn't it about time we find out, and question what they are prescribing for our children?  Isn’t it about time we further research “all” of the related side effects?  Isn't it about time we as parents demand our rights to informed consent, instead of being in the dark about these dangers?

Carrie left so many behind that love and miss her. She had so much more to live for. She wanted another baby; she wanted to be married!  Her life was cut short, and her family was cheated!  Cheated out of time, and our daughter. She left behind Grandparents, parents, sisters, Uncles and Aunts, cousins and so many friends. Carrie left behind two sisters, Ashley age 26, and Ally age 6.  Carrie’s own daughter Morgen, is now 9 years old.  At the age of 3, Morgen was diagnosed with autism. 

Matthew Lamb, age 14, one day an active teen and avid sportsman, the next sick with high fever…

In October of 2004, Matthew Lamb developed a very high fever lasting one week that reached between 101-105 degrees. Upon his medical exam and subsequent testing, it was determined that Matthew had AML Leukemia. A family shattered by the news was about to experience the battle of their lives as they began the journey and fight for Matthew’s very life. For a year and a half, Matthew would fight to survive, as he awaited treatment, after high-dose chemotherapy treatment. Counts would rise and fall, relapsing into further turmoil. Matt would get sicker and better dealing with constant secondary infections. Hopes were raised and diminished with plans for temporary leaves from the hospital. The family commuted from 2 hours away, until a room was available at the Ronald McDonald house, 2 miles away from the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital.  Matthew had one sibling, a little brother named Patrick, whom he loved very much, and in turn, Patrick loved Matthew and looked up to him.  It was the highlight of Patrick’s life when Fridays would come and he and dad could come to the Ronald McDonald house and spend the weekends with both mom and Matthew, but when Sundays would come, it would tear the family apart once again.  Matthew’s doctor assured him “his prognosis was good and that in a year and a half he would be back on the field playing football again.” At one point Matthew was lined up and healthy enough to receive a bone marrow transplant, but sadly, the donor decided not to show up. Through it all Matthew’s outlook was courageous and remarkable. He had a way of helping others to be strong on his behalf. At one point, he told his mother that he didn’t think he was going to make it, and told her of a request, that he wished to be buried in purple. Not wanting to hear this, but instead encourage him, his mother discounted that kind of talk and assured him things would be ok. Matt was a very strong young man who ran after his own antibiotics, IV-drips, and changed his own dressing whenever he could. He was not one for sympathy, but he did have it for others. One time when two younger children were also diagnosed with leukemia, he said he was glad it was "he" who had relapsed and not "them." He was thoughtful and considerate to the needs of others.

One day, almost suddenly, his mother was told that he was going home. In a moments notice they had to vacate their apartment at the Ronald McDonald house and they brought Matt home via ambulance. Mom rode along with him. Somehow Matthew’s school and friends had gotten word of his homecoming and the house and yard was full of activity upon his arrival. Matthew was able to finally come home. Fifty-eight minutes after his arrival home, Matthew Lamb passed away.

Matthew had grown up in Erie, PA and was very active. He enjoyed life to the fullest, played sports and hunted with his dad. He was full of energy, full of life, busy and on the go. He was quick witted, fast to think, and loved to make others laugh. Early symptoms of what appeared to be ADHD resulted in Matthew being placed on Ritalin for approximately two years. In approximately 1997, his ADHD medication was changed to adderall, and he remained on that drug for the next 10 years; in totality, Matt was on an ADHD medication for 12 years. His mother’s final comment: "I would rather have him here with me, with a lot of energy and still here, then to have him gone."

Matthew's parents were never warned about the dangers of ADHD medications. They did not know that a child at age 5 was considered "too young" per the label guidelines for dispensation. Their child’s blood labs were never properly monitored, nor taken regularly, nor were they ever told "why" one should monitor the child’s blood labs. Nor, were the parents ever told to be wary of "the unknown, long term side effects or ritalin, and adderall." They were also, not provided with informed consent, in which to make an educated decision. This IS an ADHD DRUG ATROCITY! No child, toddler nor teen, should have to go through this. None, not even one!

Harley Dornan Jr. (Little Dub), age 2 years old…

I just read your article and it interested me a lot. My son is 25 months old and was diagnosed with high risk ALL with chromosomal abnormalities when he was 14 months old. I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 10 years old and was put on Ritalin for a short period of time when I was first diagnosed. My mom took me off because she noticed that it just wasn’t the right drug for me; I felt like I was on speed. I was mainly on antidepressants when I was growing up and never felt like I was on the right medication so I went off altogether. After my son was born (very big and healthy) I felt like I had ADD times 10.  My brain was on overdrive and I couldn’t function, my levels were so off, I was a complete mess. I went to see a psychiatrist and told him what was going on and he told me I needed Ritalin no question. I told him I was breastfeeding my son so he told me to try to wean him. A few months went by and nothing changed and I couldn't wean him, I felt too crazy to even commit to something like weaning my son who loved breastfeeding. My doctor finally said start on your ritalin because your mental health is more important then the little side effects that ritalin could cause, he said the most that will happen is he might be a little bit hyper, so I said I could deal with that. I started the Ritalin and was breastfeeding my son. Once again I felt like I was on speed but I tried to stick with it for about 4 months until I noticed my son grinding his teeth. At that moment I decided I didn’t want to be on it anymore, it wasn’t helping, if anything it was making things worse. So I started on Prozac which is safe for breastfeeding and has helped calm me. Two months later suddenly we brought my son to emergency because he looked yellow and had little bruises on his chest. He was diagnosed with Leukemia that night. He has been on chemotherapy for one year now and they still want to give him a bone marrow transplant, which were undecided about. He has a website www.caringbridge.org/visit/littledub if you want to read up or see some pictures. Obviously as a parent the first question you ask is why? How did this happen to my perfectly healthy baby? I do not know if it was the Ritalin or not but I am always looking for answers that make sense. Please get back to me and let me know how I can help or you can help. Feel free to use my story as well. My name is Codi and my son's name is Harley Jr., please go to his website and read his story.

Regards,
Codi Fisher-Dornan

Beautiful Bree Rose

Stricken with drug induced secondary aplastic anemia

 
January 2004, at the age of 15, and via a school physical to play sports, our daughter Bree was found to have proteins in the urine. That didn’t sound so bad we thought; of course until we learned that proteins in the urine were often indicative of disease. In addition to this, we were also told that she had an abnormal platelet count,  (blood platelets were low 79,000). Normal is between 150- 450,000.  I remember thinking, what is a platelet?

Her primary care doctor referred her to an oncologist (cancer doctor) for a follow-up.  He took additional blood tests and advised he wanted to do a bone marrow biopsy.  Of course he assured us that she would be just fine and that she wasn’t dying.  In my heart, I knew it was the Ritalin.  What else could it possibly be? She wasn’t taking anything but Ritalin. I told the doctor of my suspicion, but he denied any connection.  I did not believe him.  I followed my instincts and removed her from the Ritalin immediately. Side note: Concerning bone marrow, cellularity is the quality and quantity of the billions of cells the bone marrow creates per day. At Bree’s age, her cellularity should range between 60-70%, yet the bone marrow biopsy revealed a cellularity between 15-20% with patches of 1-2%. His diagnosis was ITP, (Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura), or in other words “low blood platelets”. We were advised that it was idiopathic, meaning they didn’t know what caused it. We were further advised that it could be nothing and would repair itself, or it could be lupus, or something worse, but that he would monitor her over time.
 
As her mother, I researched. I went online and could find very little information about ITP and any connection to Ritalin.  I did find that Ritalin was suspected of causing low blood platelets at www.itppeople.com, and I did find one reference or link of another person who was asking the question as to whether or not there was a connection to ritalin and ITP on a search engine page.  Although seemingly small proof, it was enough for me.  My suspicions were confirmed.  From there, I started searching my drug receipts (they were in the attic with the taxes).  I wanted to know if this warning was on my drug labels, I wanted to know if as a parent, I had missed something.  I wanted to know if I had been warned about the possibility of this, and was negligent in my parenting regarding my child’s intake of medicine?  A medicine that was supposed to help her not hurt her.  I found however that none of the drug receipts or labels warned of this danger.  How could this be?  I later found a reference online to a PDR, the (Physician’s Desk Reference).  Every doctor has one; most doctors get a new one every year.  I wanted to know if there was any information about this danger in them?  I had seen these PDR’s from time to time when I shopped thrift stores, and after checking a few I found one dated 1979. This medicinal manual confirmed the link and I found my suspicions were correct.  The PDR from 1979 read that a severe adverse reaction to Ritalin was low blood platelets (ie. ITP).  From there I began to search dates past, I wondered how long had “medicine” known this, when parents did not?  I also wondered, how could her oncologist not know this? I researched Ritalin’s history and when it came to market.  I found that it was marketed in 1955, and authorized for use in children in 1961. I thought surely by 2004 there were others (ie. sick children)?

I searched PDR’s everywhere I could find them, I even solicited help from ebay seller’s who were selling them, asking them to look for any reference for this possibility as far back as the 1960’s. I wanted to be sure that I was covering every possible earlier manual that I could reference.  After no such information came to light earlier than the date of 1979. I assumed that this must indeed be the first date that “medicine recorded” the occurrence. From that point, I began to search forward.  By 1981, the PDR listed that Ritalin was also known to cause low blood platelets and leukopenia (low white blood cells). I advised my doctor of this, but he still denied any connection.  By this time, a few months had gone by and my daughter’s grades began falling from A’s and B’s to C’s and D’s since she was removed from the adhd medication. She was a freshman in high school and we were concerned. Even after feeding him the information, the oncologist told us that we could continue giving her the ritalin, but I thought he must be insane to give a child who had low blood platelets a medicine “known” to cause low blood platelets. I disregarded his dogma. I would never again give her that adhd medication, and I would warn others. I continued to research and tell others about her story.

For the next two years Bree’s blood was seemingly stable, but her symptoms were becoming more apparent. She experienced bruising and hair loss, pallor, and fatigue.  She often had numerous cavities through these years and recent others. She needed permission from her doctors to go on mission trips to 3rd world countries with her youth group, and was told to stay off rollercoasters, and the like.  Then in May 2006, Bree’s blood work seemed to change, and for the first time her platelets dipped below 50,000. I persisted even stronger in my research of Ritalin and in my quest to warn others, I created a handout detailing her story and some facts I had learned about Ritalin.  I would pass this out to parents wherever I went. I made many phone calls to FDA Medwatch, wrote letters, requested research and FDA databases of information regarding severe adverse reactions.  Sifted through numerous cases involving ADHD related drug severe adverse reactions and grew ever more suspicious to what was going on surrounding these drugs and they’re dangers, until one day I stumbled upon a 1991 RX family drug guide. I turned to the page where Ritalin / methylphenidate was listed.  In the severe adverse reaction section about Ritalin, it read that it “was known to cause, low blood platelets, low white blood cells, and low red blood cells.”  Now that was a pancytopenia, a decrease in all three blood cell types.  What organ creates blood cells? The bone marrow. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see the links, and understand the danger.  I called her oncologist and again related the link to Ritalin. He unbelievably again denied the connection, at which point I told him he wasn’t fit to care for my daughter anymore.  He advised that based on her condition he would normally refer her out at this point anyway, and he made a referral advising of some good doctors he knew of. Because I didn’t trust him, I wanted to check them out. So I called, and spoke to their office manager, and learned that maybe this team would be good for Breanna.  It was a team of four doctors who were triple-board certified in pediatrics, hematology and oncology.
 
Upon review of Bree’s case, her new doctors wanted to perform a second bone marrow biopsy.  This completed; we were told that Bree had “aplastic anemia.” We had never heard of it. We had a brief discussion about “aplastic anemia” and that it was “bone marrow failure,” and sometimes resulted in a bone marrow transplant or immune suppression therapy.  I asked, “so this is progressively getting worse then?”  He examined her first bone marrow biopsy report and said “I don’t know where the diagnosis of ITP came from, but considering her cellularity from that test, we would have diagnosed her with aplastic anemia.” We were floored. An additional 10 tubes of blood were taken and sent throughout the country to rule out pre-existing genetic tendencies towards disease.  We were sent home with a “parent handout” about “aplastic anemia”. We later read in that handout that sometimes aplastic anemia was a precursor to leukemia. Later blood testing would confirm that ALL pre-existing genetic tendencies for disease was negative in Breanna. Therefore technically, Bree had “secondary aplastic anemia,” meaning it was acquired, from something.

Upon researching aplastic anemia online, I began seeing many references to benzene, a known carcinogen (cancer causing agent), known to cause aplastic anemia, and also known to cause leukemia.  I wondered if this ingredient was in Ritalin?  I researched further. I began to dissect the “known” ingredients of ritalin, and specifically PEG, polyethylene glycol, and derivatives of the chemical, broken down, ethylene, ethyl, ether, also in motor fuels and oils, rocket fuel, plastics, rubbers, anti-freeze, etc… I saw a real close cousin to benzene in all of this.  I wondered why was this ingredient in all of these “non-digestible” things, and also in my child’s medicine? I thought “3 times a day, for nearly 8 years, my child ingested this medicine,” no “medicine breaks”, no “drug vacations”, and no “drug holidays, as they are so want to create today.” I was outraged. I was angry. I was heartsick. I felt that I had poisoned my own child.  Should I bury my head and let no one know? Remain ashamed, segregated and distraught?  No. I would raise my head and speak boldly. Big Pharma doesn’t know it yet, but they just ticked off the wrong woman. If it takes the rest of my life, I will make sure there is recompense felt in their pocketbooks.  No child, or parent should have to go through this.  Side note: Who created the term “drug holidays” and why? The body is a remarkable machine, and has great security systems.  Could it be these drug holidays will “slow down” toxicity, giving the body time to repair it’s engine?

I continued to research. I didn’t know if it was the PEG, but I suspected it. I wondered where are the other sick children, surely there are others? It occurred to me that because Ritalin boomed in the 1990’s, that perhaps we were just going to [begin] to see the long-term effects of Ritalin, and other ADHD medication side effects. Was my child the first? Surely not. It also occurred to me that backgrounds, and environmental factors could also be factors in this atrocity. Synergy refers to the phenomenon in which two or more discrete influences or agents acting together create an effect greater than that predicted by knowing only the separate effects of the individual agents.  I pondered on synergies a great deal. I came from an environment in Ohio where there were a lot of rubber and plastics factories; my husband came from Wisconsin, where there was mostly farming, breweries and cheese factories. Ignorantly, my husband and I both smoked for several years too. But then again, thousands of other parents smoked, and there seemed to be no epidemic of aplastic anemia in other people’s lives. What set Bree apart from other children? Ritalin. I gave birth to three completely healthy daughters. The only difference between this one and the other two, is that was this one was given Ritalin for nearly 8 years. May God forgive us.

I was aware that there was a benzene ring in Ritalin, and there was some documentation in a report that I had read, that said something was strange with the benzene ring, See - http://www.humboldt.edu/~morgan/methyl.htm
Excerpt: “The benzene ring is formed of six carbons and six hydrogen. The actual alignment of the atoms is that the carbons are on the inside of the rings with a hydrogen bonded to each one on the outside. The carbons have three double bonds among the six of them; the strange part about the inner three double bonds is that they are shared equally by the six carbons. The benzene ring is also one of the major reasons that methylphenidate has such strong side effects with certain prescription drugs like the tricyclics, and the anti-convulsants, and the anticoagulants www.rxlist.com ”

When you take a look at the tricyclics and anti-convulsants you will find that many of them have very serious Black Box Warnings, but Ritalin, Adderall and other ADHD drugs do not.  I am aware of three Rx drugs that do cause aplastic anemia (not exclusive), all three are anti-convulsant medications and ALL have Black Box Warnings, detailing the RISKS!  I urge you to view those warnings at www.rxlist.com for Carbamazepine, Felbamate & Ticlopidine.

I was also aware that there was benzene in other things in our environment. The simplest form of a benzene ring is benzene. That said, then Benzene is in Ritalin, even if it’s “inert,” it’s still in there. I wondered, is the ring leaking? I looked at various chemical boiling points and possible synergies, and at the manufacturers of Ritalin.  I am concerned not only about the ingredients of the product, how the product works within the body at the cellular level. I am also concerned with what potential corners are being cut in the manufacturing of the product?

In September of 2006, I learned of 10 aplastic anemia cases that occurred in the North County in San Diego, CA., I was curious.  Seven of the 10 were children.  I have since spoke to one of the mothers of the children, however, her child was never on Ritalin. Then, a couple of weeks later I read the book “The Hundred Year Lie, by Randall Fitzgerald,” in the first few pages, I was shocked to learn that the author was reporting, that a California State Environmental Official had reported that 60% of California’s rivers and streams had a very high percentage of toxins.  He went on to name them:  Prozac, Ritalin, and antibiotics.  Additionally, in the following pages, I learned that benzene is an “inert chemical.” In chemistry, the term inert is used to describe something that is not chemically active.  The book described an “inert” as a chemical that could remain “proprietary” on the labeling of a product; since every product’s ingredient is at risk for possible theft and hijacking. Side note: Benzene is a chemical used in thousands of pesticides, many of which are sprayed today on our fruits and vegetables, nationwide, and further, Ritalin and other ADHD drugs are not the only drugs in society that we should be concerned about.  PEG for instance, is in other drugs. I read a headline recently that was titled “Doctors write 65 million prescriptions each year for unapproved drugs.” If you are of right mind, that should not sit well with you. In fact, I would caution you about taking ‘any drug that is not absolutely medically necessary.”

As I began to chat on message boards and ADHD forums, trying to warn other parents about the dangers of Ritalin, and about the long-term side effects of ADHD drugs; I quickly became frustrated.  I found that many people viewed our story and took it to heart, but others attacked me viciously.  Many just wanted me to shut up and go away.  After all, they liked their drugs, and it was really working for their kids, so they didn’t want to be bothered with what they considered was ‘my rhetoric.’  “AA” is 3 in a million.  What were the chances?  If I didn’t come around to their way of thinking, I often found my posts were completely deleted from the board forums and I was ultimately locked out.  I found this rather interesting. I realized very quickly that some parents are very selfish and just don’t care.  Drugging a child makes their life simpler, less of a hassle, so they really don’t care what the side effects are.  Hard to believe? It’s true. I also realized that many board administrators / moderators wanted to shut me up, and fast. Further, I came to the knowledge that many of these forums were the property of, none other than, Big Pharma, the Pharmaceutical Companies, and CHADD (pro-ADHD support group). I was accused of being a member of the Church of Scientology, to which I had never belonged. I was considered a menace, and an Internet troll, but that was ok too. I’d always been the underdog, and as I imagine, “ever will be.”

In approximately 2005/2006, I learned of the Texas Ritalin Study in which doctors were claiming evidence of “chromosomal aberrations,” (ie. chromosomal/cellular breaks) that was alarming in relation to a higher cancer risk in children taking Ritalin.  I later learned that the FDA was finally considering a study, allocating $2 million dollars to “confirm or dispute” (but likely to try and disprove) the results of the Texas Ritalin Study.  To date, that study is not yet complete, it has seemingly progressed very slowly and appeared to be behind schedule for awhile.  I did speak with Ms. Kristine Witt (heading up the study) via e-mail yesterday (10/30/07), who reports that they are in the final stages of data acquisition and analysis, and that they hope to have the study results compiled within a few months. See details:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00341029;jsessionid=597B445ACA1F5DE19B35F16BCBBEB0D2?order=33
The results of that study will be interesting to a lot of different people.

I’ve made attempts at justice.  I’ve called lawyer, after lawyer.  All seemingly sympathetic, but none who could help. Why? There was no study to prove my hypothesis. Any lawyer taking this on would need proof, and a lot of it. It is a David and Goliath case. Fifty years after the drug came to market, and six million (plus) children later, there were still no drug studies documenting the long-term side effects of Ritalin (aside from the Texas Ritalin study, which by the way, everyone was eager to disprove).  Fifty years later and Big Pharma is still ‘allowed’ to claim that “they don’t know what the long term effects of Ritalin is?” How can this be? Any lawyer fighting this monster would need a “war chest of money” to fight “a billion dollar industry” that will fight back like Goliath. The bean counters call it “simple actuarial analysis, risk management, ratios and profits, how many will get sick; be able to sue, be able to win? How much will they win? How much cash do they stand to loose?” I was not looking to profit from this tragedy, everybody knows that lawyers are the only ones who really profit from class action lawsuits; but I absolutely am interested in the media attention that it would bring; specifically to unsuspecting parents who were medicating their children. Small action, class action, I didn’t care. It’s not about the money for parents like myself. It’s about life and death, right and wrong, good and evil. It’s about an atrocity inflicted upon the most innocent persons of society. It’s about children. No amount of money can repair that damage.  How does the pharmaceutical industry dare feed drugs like this to six million plus children, and not be responsible in it, and for it? They better hold on to their money tight, because without a heart and soul, it’s all they got.

I found websites like www.ritalindeath.com and others, that advised of cardiac dangers and ADHD heart related drug damage, but I found few to none relating to what Bree was dealing with. It occurred to me then, that it has only been since the early 1990’s that the internet has been around to “link” parents around the globe, like never before. It also occurred to me that some parents would be ashamed of this, even if they suspected it; they would never share it, “ever.” Others perhaps, would be unable to know how to go about “getting the word out there,” even if they wanted to. More would not be able to even put the sentences together, handle the jargon, understand the chemicals, or have the skills to do the research. Maybe there were others who would have liked to make a difference, but just couldn’t for whatever reason? It would be easy for a parent to suspect that their child was “alone” in a diagnosis like this, until now. With only 10% of the nation even reporting tragedies to FDA Medwatch, how will we ever be able to accurately measure the extent of damage being done?

How many children on ADHD drugs such as Ritalin, adderall and others, are walking around right now, sick in body, and no one suspects a thing?

As Bree’s story was getting out, other children’s stories relating to ADHD deaths and the long-term side effects of Ritalin, Adderall and others started coming in.  First came Carrie Smith, passing of leukemia at age 27, on Ritalin 6 years, and through her, Matthew Lamb passing of leukemia, on Ritalin 2 years, and Adderall 10 years, for a total of 12 years. Then one day, a 13-year-old boy with aplastic anemia, who had been on Ritalin for years. Next came Courtney, a 13 year old with ITP on Ritalin 6 years. Then Harley, a 2 year old baby with leukemia. As I heard the stories of other children stricken with leukemia, aplastic anemia, and ITP, I saw the connection with them specifically relating to ADHD medications and psychotropic drugs.

The tragic stories of ADHD harm and death that were coming my way were so much more personal, and different from the data that I had been sifting through.  Millions of records found in the FDA’s very own “severe adverse reaction” drug databases detailing a multitude of cases of ADHD and psychotropic drug related damage as far back as 1969. Relating to ADHD medications, it was mostly for Ritalin (Methylphenidate, Methylin, Methyl, and Cylert. The databases depicting stories and atrocities of sick children and adults such as; heart attacks, heart palpitations, suicides, psychiatric concerns of all kinds, liver cancer, leukopenia, ITP, aplastic anemia and leukemia, and this with only 10% of the population reporting!  It was evident at that point that there were other sick children out there, but they’re voices were small, their stories were not in the mainstream.  The newer, more dangerous drugs (extended time release capsules that stay in the body longer) came to market between 1996-2007.

After witnessing evidence of other children in the FDA’s databases afflicted with low blood platelets, ITP, leukopenia, neutropenia and other “hematological concerns” related to ADHD drugs, I began to wonder, what if Carrie Smith and Matthew Lamb once had ITP and aplastic anemia and it went unnoticed?

Consider this: When my child was first sick I searched for the old drug receipts, but I also called after older medical records with various doctors she had seen. Upon receipt of them, I did locate one old blood lab from 2001 (never reported to me), where Bree’s blood was completely normal, with the exception being her platelet count, which was low (99,000). So regardless of a misdiagnosis on the “aa” with the first oncologist, my child did apparently have ITP at one time (3 years prior to 2004). Further, as a mother who currently has a child, first sick with a diagnosis of ITP; and second with aplastic anemia, I believe it is highly possible that Carrie and Matt did have ITP, aplastic anemia and then leukemia. My daughter Bree, for instance, looks pretty good (normal) and seems healthy enough, that I’d be willing to bet no one would even know she was sick if I hadn’t told them. I truly believe no one would suspect she was sick. Her blood lab results however paint a completely different picture. I hope you're getting this. I hope you understand the significance of these facts! I can honestly say to you today, “that if not but for” a sports physical, I do not even believe that I myself would know my own child is this seriously sick, to this day! This is scary! Carrie and Matt’s leukemia came on very quickly. It was a complete surprise to each family. Both had the same type of leukemia. It is my personal belief that hematological damage may not be a “side-effect of Ritalin and Adderall” but instead a “long-term forward effect, when you stay on the drug too long.  How long is too long for your child? I strongly believe ADHD drugs are silent killers. How many parents may have had a child on Ritalin or some other ADHD medication; that was stricken with leukemia suddenly and never suspected the connection? Perhaps they were never even able to find proof that there was a connection?

I also wonder how many of those parents after burying a deceased child would be brave enough to come forward and say “they had a hand in it?” Not that it was the parent’s fault, no! (Don’t hear what I am not saying), but make no mistake about it, there is an abundance of shame and guilt for a parent facing this nightmare! Should there be? Whose fault is it? The laymen parent? The educated doctors? The revenue seeking schools? The overburdened teachers? The impacted judges? The slithering psychiatrists? The soliciting drug reps? The whore mongering, war chest, and filthy-rich, “greedy for more” drug companies? The trusted, yet corrupt FDA? Who puts ADHD and psychotropic drugs on the market? Who specifically comes up with labels for children with accompanying drugs to fix that problem, and markets them to children? Who creates the chemicals? Why are blood labs for children on ADHD suppose to be done? What are they watching for? Who markets a new drug almost annually and actively targets children for marketing? Who motivates doctors to prescribe them with numerous kickbacks? Who is suppose to make sure it’s safe? Who creates drug-warning labels? Who is overseeing the medical care related to Rx drugs and our children? Who is responsible for providing studies with honest results? The questions don’t necessarily stop here, but I do have to stop some time.

Education.  That’s it.  Just one word. Education is what is needed in America and across the globe today. Education about our foods and medicines. Education about a multitude of sins and conspiracies inflicted upon us, the unsuspecting public.

Recently Bree’s platelet counts dropped to 29,000.  This is borderline SAA (severe aplastic anemia), anything under 10,000 would be considered VSAA (very severe). Her doctors say there is nothing you can eat or drink that will cure aplastic anemia. Perhaps this is true, perhaps not?

I know of one gal who never chose chemical treatment for her “aplastic anemia” and managed on blood transfusions and phlebotomies (bloodletting) alone for 17 months. Had she not stayed the course, she may have never known that her body was about to turn it all around. She is managing on diet alone now, plant based primarily. Another gentlemen with aplastic anemia opted for immune suppression therapy (much worse than it sounds) ATG, then ALG, and back to ATG again (a nightmare in hell).  In the end, he was convinced that he would not treat chemically anymore.  He too has sustained life on a plant-based diet, beans, greens and grains. However, I must say. Neither of these two individuals aplastic anemia were the direct result of Ritalin, or any ADHD drug. In fact, Bruce is now MDS Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, formerly known as "preleukemia"). They’re aplastics were secondary, but the exact causes are unknown to them.

Fighting for Life

It is not known if Bree or any child inflicted with drug induced aplastic anemia can survive it, but if she can, perhaps there will be hope for other children? We have personally chosen to treat her holistically at this time, we pray that we will never have to choose the chemical route. It was chemical after all that caused this. We are reading, researching, buying organic foods, natural vitamins, supplementing with Amazon and Chinese herbs, taking in proper amounts of structured water, and maintaining a proper diet. Bree IS fighting for her very life. We are concerned about her medical benefits, which will be ending as of Jan. 31, 2008. We do not know how things will work out concerning this. We also wonder if she will ever be able to marry, parent a family of her own, or birth a child.  If so, will her offspring incur reproductive harm? Will she be able to sustain full-time employment? Will she be refused medical, as well as, short and long term disability insurance due to a pre-existing condition at the age of 18? As sick as she is right now, the doctor’s say she is not sick enough yet to receive Social Security Disability. There are many questions and few answers.  There are lots of problems, and lots of expense.

What’s happening today?
We are done worrying and fretting. I cry a lot. This I cannot help. There are many times I am jerked awake out of dreams, concerning her health. I pray. I read the Word for comfort. We do not worry, nor fret for the future anymore, but instead cast our cares upon the one who cares for us. Jesus Christ; both Son of God, and Son of Man. We pray for healing, knowing that ultimately He will work ALL, both good and bad to our good, for we love Him, and He loves us. Bree is a child of the Living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it is up to Him, whether or not He will work a miracle in her life; to the Glory of God.

Prayer:
Father, we declare the Blood of Jesus Christ to flow through Bree’s bone marrow. We remind you of your Word, that the Life of the Flesh is in the Blood of Christ. According to your Word let it be done. May the compassion of your love overwhelm us so that we can see the glory of the Lord in this situation. We bind the thief that comes to steal, kill, and destroy in the Name of Jesus, declaring that Jesus has come to give Bree life and that more abundantly.  Father your love heals and restores, please restore Bree’s cells!  Amen!

The Story of My Son

 “I had resisted suggestions that my son take this medication (Concerta) for years, but since his neurologist suggested the medication, I trusted his judgment, This turned out to be a mistake.”            

My son, Kendrick* was born a healthy boy twelve years ago. He was unusually socially responsive at only 2 months, and from infancy always enjoyed being around infants or children his age. However, at age 3 it became apparent he was very speech delayed, which is when I began to have him evaluated for developmental delays. He qualified for special education pre-school and as a parent we also provided him speech therapy. He enjoyed preschool, began to talk more and seemed to progress with his speech.

However, about 6 months after starting pre-school, had two unexplained seizures within a 2-week period. (Coincidentally, before each seizure, I had given him Cardec DM Cough Syrup, which had been prescribed by his doctor. I do not recommend this cough syrup). My son was diagnosed with epilepsy, and it became apparent he had other issues as well, such as impaired gross and fine motor coordination. Although my son could be very social at times, behavior was becoming quite an issue, which can be typical for developmentally delayed children. He banged his head, threw fits and exhibited a low frustration tolerance. Meltdowns were frequent, in which he would yell, bang his head, or throw objects. He also had some autistic-like behavior, such as repeating phrases, flicking switches on and off, or banging a toy repeatedly. However, he never fit the “autistic” label, since he was too social and would respond and smile at anyone who evaluated him. He started on anti-convulsant medication at the age of 4, and seemed to make progress in school. 

By age 5, Kendrick was diagnosed with a specific condition that helped to explain his developmental delays and behavior. At age 7, his neurologist decided to discontinue his epilepsy medication. It was apparent by his teachers that his attention and focus deteriorated. His neurologist’s response was to put my son on a “trial” of Concerta, which is “ADHD” medication. I had resisted suggestions that my son take this medication for years, but since his neurologist suggested the medication, I trusted his judgment, This turned out to be a mistake. After moving to a different city, several months later my son experienced some strange trembling in one side of his body. So I again found a pediatric neurologist close to the city I lived and took my son for an evaluation. This neurologist decided to add anti-convulsant medication on top of the Concerta my son was already taking. I had expressed some concern that the Concerta was causing him to become irritable. Children with my son’s condition often benefited from behavior therapy, which in a nutshell is similar to what Super Nanny does for normal kids. A behavior consultant observes and provides a parent with specific techniques to motivate and discipline the child. Kendrick’s neurologist dismissed my concerns and for 2-1/2 more years, my son continued with the Concerta. However, it wasn’t until age 9 that my son finally received behavior therapy. In retrospect, he should have received this therapy when he was age 5 and NEVER have been put on “ADHD” medications.

When my son first began taking Concerta, it seemed to help him at school, but over the long term this apparent benefit faded quite a bit. Although he behaved at school, the medication began to wear off in the afternoon and he would have withdrawal side effects: fidgeting, easily angered, and hyperactive. He had a horrible time with handwriting and continued to receive occupational therapy. It would take him ½ an hour to write 1 or 2 sentences. Writing was very laborious and his hands trembled when he tried to write. His lack of fine motor coordination had a significant impact at school. He could not keep up with his peers very well in the regular classroom. At home, my son’s behavior continued to be difficult. It seemed the slightest thing would set him off in a rage. He would swing or throw objects, stomp his feet and yell. I continued to express my concerns about his behavior to his neurologist to no avail. (It turned out that had I stayed with that neurologist, he would have added more psychiatric drugs to the mix, such as Prozac). Due to my son’s large size, it was imperative that my husband and I get his behavior under control while he was still young and smaller than we were. Due to his tall stature and frame, he had already been evaluated by an endocrinologist, and was found to be growing at a normal rate, with a projected height of 6 feet 6 inches or so. Finally, as it was nearing summer, I decided to completely pull my son off Concerta to see if it affected his behavior. This was before the FDA put warnings on the label that this drug can cause aggressive behavior. The first couple of months my son was literally bouncing off the walls and driving me nuts. Little did I know this was a side effect of withdrawing from the medication. And apparently my son was very agitated, because he fidgeted with everything.   It took some fortitude to continue with my course of action – no Concerta. I ended up giving him some herbs to help calm him down during this time. It wasn’t until the end of the summer that my son had calmed down quite a bit, and I began to seriously question why he had ever been on Concerta to begin with. He was not exhibiting nearly the number of meltdowns, and his aggressiveness had greatly diminished. It was a huge relief to finally see some improvement in his behavior. As a parent, I have always been an extremely patient person and my husband and I were using loss of privilege to discipline. I made an effort not to yell when disciplining, since I felt this would only teach my son likewise. During the fall, during his regular appointment with his neurologist, the doctor strongly urged me to put him back on the Concerta. Having lived with my son, and FINALLY seeing an improvement in his behavior, I refused to put my son back on this medication. To back up my decision, I began to search on the internet for adverse effects of “ADHD” medications. I came across Dr. Fred Baughman’s website, ADHDFraud.org. To my horror, I read about a number of studies which showed that brain atrophy (shrinkage) and damage were attributed to “ADHD” medications. Apparently, since 1986, a debate had been raging whether the brain damage was due to “ADHD”, or ADHD medications. Top “ADHD” experts purported that “ADHD brains are abnormal to begin with” to justify their position that these medications help children. However, my son had a MRI brain scan which was normal, and did not have any atrophy. Therefore, it became apparent that Dr. Baughman was correct in his argument that the “ADHD” medications caused brain atrophy. Needless to say, after confronting my son’s neurologist, my son never again took Concerta or any other “ADHD” medication again.

So what’s happened since? Since pulling my son off Concerta, his handwriting began to improve remarkably. Apparently the Concerta had impaired his fine motor coordination. His behavior is much more like a typical adolescent, and we are experiencing far less behavior problems. He is now 5’10” and 187 pounds, and only 12 years old. So thank God we’re not having the awful behavior he had a few years ago. He has since seen another neurologist who more comprehensively evaluated his epilepsy. My son continues to have significant learning problems, which we are addressing through improved nutrition and avoidance of  neurotoxins. Unfortunately, Concerta is not the only substance he needs to avoid. We are now avoiding Nutrasweet  and mercury. An excellent book to read is "Excitotoxins", by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D., a neuroscientist. He details the brain damage caused by Nutrasweet, MSG and other excitotoxins, with over 500 references. "ADHD Fraud", by Dr. Fred Baughman, a neurologist, is another excellent book to read on the dangers of psychiatric medications. Mercury, found in dental amalgam fillings, vaccinations with thimerosol (including today’s flu and pneumonia shots), is yet another neurotoxin to avoid.  MercuryPoisoned.com explains more about the dangers of mercury. My biggest regret is not knowing all this information when my son was younger. Who knows how much better off he would have been? So I hand the information to you, the reader, in the hope that your child will benefit. 

*Child's name has been changed to protect his privacy and identity, sender prefers to remain anonymous.